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Topic: How do YOU show gratitude to your priest? (Read 731 times)

My confesor has been such a huge blessing. I cannot imagine where my life would be without him.... He's helped me through so much. His guidance and support so important. How do you come close to adequately showing your gratitude, and without offending your priest's humility? I'd love it if Father Peter Farrington would chime in.

Next time you ask him a blessing and he offers his hand to veneration, discretely slide a 20 or 50 dollar bill into his hand.

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"May the Lord our God remember in His kingdom all Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, which heralds the Word of Truth and fearlessly offers and distributes the Holy Oblation despite human deficiencies and persecutions moved by the powers of this world, in all time and unto the ages of ages."

"May the Lord our God remember in His kingdom all Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, which heralds the Word of Truth and fearlessly offers and distributes the Holy Oblation despite human deficiencies and persecutions moved by the powers of this world, in all time and unto the ages of ages."

Next time you ask him a blessing and he offers his hand to veneration, discretely slide a 20 or 50 dollar bill into his hand.

Maybe this works better in Brazil than in some other countries?

It's a small thing, but just by taking an active part in parish life--attending services, offering time for tasks that need to be done, being willing to sit on committees--one is showing how much one appreciates the priest and the work he does. Of course it doesn't hurt to tell him if a particular sermon or chat has been especially helpful as well. And anyone who really appreciates his/her priest will make sure he's receiving an adequate salary so doesn't need to depend on having a 20 or 50 dollar bill pressed into his hand from time to time.

"May the Lord our God remember in His kingdom all Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, which heralds the Word of Truth and fearlessly offers and distributes the Holy Oblation despite human deficiencies and persecutions moved by the powers of this world, in all time and unto the ages of ages."

Do something for your parish or help your priest in his activities.For example, I've given a few lectures for studens and for adults at my parish (e.g about Orthodoxy in Serbia and Arab countries) and written some articles for the parishwebsite.

It might be hel in preparation for a parish event (baking, decorating, some technical issues etc.).

So, generally, I agree with FinnJames.

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Pray for persecuted Christians, especially in Serbian Kosovo and Raška, Egypt and Syria

Next time you ask him a blessing and he offers his hand to veneration, discretely slide a 20 or 50 dollar bill into his hand.

Curiously enough I dont see that much veneration of the hands in Coptic and Syriac parishes. Not to say that it isnt done, but Ive never seen a Coptic priest or monk hold out his hand to be venerated in the manner of some EO priests, some of whom very clearly extend their hand for that purpose; others seem to have their hands venerated less frequently and to not expect it as much. For example, a very nice Romanian priest who is a friend of mine seemed almost pleasantly surprised when I venerated his hand rather than merely shaking it.

I myself venerate the hands of clergy whenever possible.

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Next time you ask him a blessing and he offers his hand to veneration, discretely slide a 20 or 50 dollar bill into his hand.

Curiously enough I dont see that much veneration of the hands in Coptic and Syriac parishes. Not to say that it isnt done, but Ive never seen a Coptic priest or monk hold out his hand to be venerated in the manner of some EO priests, some of whom very clearly extend their hand for that purpose; others seem to have their hands venerated less frequently and to not expect it as much. For example, a very nice Romanian priest who is a friend of mine seemed almost pleasantly surprised when I venerated his hand rather than merely shaking it.

I myself venerate the hands of clergy whenever possible.

in Romania kissing a priest's hand is mostly an affection of the ultra pious. Most parish priests are sort of embarrassed by it and never demand it.

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"I saw a miracle where 2 people entered church one by baptism and one by chrismation. On pictures the one received by full baptism was shinning in light the one by chrismation no."

In Romania they used to have a plate next to the confession seat, and people left tips there.

In Poland at some parishes, e.g mine, there are anałojs (you know, this little tables for icons, Gospel, cross etc. that are used for various things, including confession) that have from one side a little box with a hole for money. But only rather Ukrainian and other Eastern Slav imigrants put some money to them after confession. Maybe they have been used in the past or they've been bought e.g in Ukraine.

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Pray for persecuted Christians, especially in Serbian Kosovo and Raška, Egypt and Syria

In my own experience, most people will want to take a blessing from a priest. Either they will kiss the priests hand, or if he takes it away from them, will kiss their own hand after they have held theirs out to be touched by the priest.

In my own experience, most people will want to take a blessing from a priest. Either they will kiss the priests hand, or if he takes it away from them, will kiss their own hand after they have held theirs out to be touched by the priest.

This habit of priests pulling their hands away had me veey confused at first! I was used to the Eastern Orthodox practice where the hand is not pulled away. I thought I was doing something wrong or that because I was the only non-Egyptian they thought I wasn't Orthodox. .. Thankfully I finally asked and learned it was the priest being humble

I don't usually pull my hand away. There is a time for me to be humble but it is not when someone is asking for a blessing. Or rather, I am always to seek to be humble, but that should not require me to deny someone a blessing. That is for me to struggle with myself.

I kiss priest's hand when i arrive at the church and when i am about to leave. I do the chanting or help at the altar, it depends on how many People show up at the "choir". Then in the altar i gossip with the priests and deacons the chanting women that they cant chant well.Sometimes, when i have trouble getting up in the morning for the Liturgy, i tell to myself and the devil, who wants to miss out the gossiping, i don't. Then i get up immediately like in the military. And i drive really fast towards the church. Then i put on my sticharion and i think that i am important, while everyone else thinks that i am not.

« Last Edit: January 22, 2018, 01:23:34 PM by Čtec »

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Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - Saint Apostle Paul

Once I tried to kiss a RC priest's hand and he just high-fived me, it was embarassing.

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"May the Lord our God remember in His kingdom all Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, which heralds the Word of Truth and fearlessly offers and distributes the Holy Oblation despite human deficiencies and persecutions moved by the powers of this world, in all time and unto the ages of ages."

Once I tried to kiss a RC priest's hand and he just high-fived me, it was embarassing.

At least he didn't accidentally palm you in the face.

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